Machine for manufacturing shoe-laces, &amp;c.



No. 690,995.' Patented 1an. I4, |902. H. s. PULLMAN.

4MM'HINE MANUFACTURING SHOE LACES, &c. (Appllcation filed May 2, 1901.)

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No, 690,995. 4 Paented lan. i4, 19112.

H. S. PULLMAN.

MACHINE FOB MANUFACTURING SHOE ALACES, Y811:.

[Application med my 2, 1901.)

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.g LOI) Patented 1an. I4, |9u|2l H.. S. PULLMAN.

MACHINE FR MANUF'AGTURING-SHE LAGES', 8m.

(Application flied may 2, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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HERBERT S. PULLMAN, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHlNE FOR MANUFACTURNG SHOE-LACES, cc.

SEECILFECATEON formingpart of Letters Patent No. 690,995, dated January 14, 1902. Application iiled May 2, 1901. Serial No. 58.470. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom z'f may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. PULLMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Shoe-Laces and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of metal-tipped laces-such as shoelaces,corset laces, and the like; and the object of my invention is to provide an automatic machine for applying the metallic tips to lacing material and then cutting the laces into proper length to leave each lace provided with a suitable metallic tip.

Referring to the drawings forming part hereof, Figure l is a View in front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the central part of the machine, showing the mechanism by means of which the metal tip is applied to the lacing. Fig. 3 is a detail viewin front elevation of the ribbon-feed mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail view in side elevation of the ribbonfeed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross-section, on enlarged scale, of part of the ribbon-feed and mechanism for cutting the tip-blank from the end of the ribbon. Fig. 6 is a detail View, on enlarged scale in crosssection, of the tip-blank cutter. Fig. 7 is a detail view, on enlarged scale, showing the lateral feed for the tip-blank. Fig. 8 is a View in side elevation of the lateral feed device and in cross-section of the closing-dies, illustrating the operation of these parts, on enlarged scale. Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation, on enlarged scale, of the lace-delivery wheel. Fig. l0 is a detail view in side elevation, on enlarged scale, of the delivery-wheel and attached mechanism. Fig. 1l is a detail top view, on enlarged scale, of the cutter mechanism. Fig. l2 is a detail View, on enlarged scale, of the lace-clamp device on the delivery-wheel.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes the4 bed or frame of the machine, which may be of any convenient size and shape, With the several mechanisms arranged to feed a continuous length of lacing along the frame and apply toit at proper intervals the metallic tip and then sever the lacing midway of the length of the tip.

My invention is shown as embodied in a preferred form of mechanisms for the several operations, the lacing l) being unwound from the reel c, as by means of the feed .and press rolls CZ, mounted at one end of the frame and turning at a rate of speed sufficient to main'- tain a supply c of the lacing free and under no tension except that due to the weight of the loop. At this end of theframe the lacing passes through an automatic clamp e, which holds it from retrograde movement', and then extends along the top of the frame to a point near the farther end, Where it is held by a second clamp e from any except forward movement. ln effect the lacing lies along the top of the frame for a space of time sufficient for the proper mechanism to cut a tipblank from a ribbon of metal, to form it, and then close it upon the lacing. A main driving-shaftfis mounted in journal-bearings on the frame, with a pulley f at one end and connecting mechanism between the main shaft and the delivery-wheel g. This, as shown, consists of a bevel gear-wheel f2 on the shaft f in mesh with a bevel gear-Wheel fast on the upright shaft f3, the other end of which bears a bevel gear-wheel in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel on the driving-shaft of the delivery-Wheel g. On the same shaft with the delivery-wheel g and turning with it is a pulley g', which is connected by a belt g2 with a pulley g3 on a shaft at the right-hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, from whichthe feed and press rolls CZ are driven, as by means of the belt g,

The tip which is to reinforce the end of each lace is made from thin metal in a long strip or ribbon 7?. and arranged in a roll h', supported, preferably, on brackets h2 from the carriage t', on which the tip-applying mechanism is mounted. This carriage is movable along the bed of the machine and is adapted to be clamped in any desired posit-ion, this adjustment of the carriage being of advantage in varying the length of lace that can be made on the one machinethat is, this carriage z' may be set to make a lace of a given length,

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and when it is desired to change this length the carriage is moved to a new position and clamped there.

On the shafth a series of cam-wheels l 2 3 4 are adj ustably mounted,and these cam-wheels are provided with cams which operate certain mechanisms in the order in which the cams are numbered. Cam-wheel l (see Fig. 4) has a cam-groove 7s, in which a pin 7e', projecting from the arm 7a2 on the slide 7c3, is located. A rotary movement of the cam-wheel l reciprocates this slide, which is connected by the rod 7c1 with an arm 765, mounted to swing on a rock-shaft k6. A pawl 7c'7 on the arm 71:5 engages the teeth of a ratchet-wheel 71:8, which is fast to the shaft, so that the rocking movement of this arm causes the rock-shaft to turn in one direction of movement. This shaft bears the feed-roll 7t9, which is mounted to cooperate with the feed-roll 7010 as a means of feeding the ribbon 7i of metal toward the place where the lacing b extends acrossthe carriage. These two feed-rolls are connected by gear-wheels 7011, so that their speed ot' rotation is the same.

The cam on the cam-wheel l is so shaped as to feed a desired length of the ribbon into position under a cutting-off die in a comparativcly short space of time, the feed mechanism then being out of operation until the time comes for another length to be fed forward to form another tip.

A die 7 is located in the path of movement of the ribbon h and has a central recess 7, in which the lacing b lies. A punch 72 is supported on the end of a lever Z3, which is mounted to be rocked on the pivot Z4 by means of the cam-Wheel 2, a pin on the lever projecting into a cam-slot in the side ot' the wheel. The vertical movement of this punch 72 is sufiicient to cut from the end of the ribbon a length of metal sufcient to wrap around the lacing b. A series of points are borne by the punch 75, and they puncture the metal of the blank and cause spurs to project from the under side of the blank, these spurs being driven into the substance ot' the lacing as the metal is closed about it to form the tip. As soon as the blank has been cut from the ribbon hit is moved lengthwise along the lacing b by means of a feed-slide m, on which fingers mmQare pivoted. This slide mis moved alonga guideway in the carriage by means of a lever m3, which is pivoted tp the carriage and is swung on its pivot by means of a cam m4 on the side of the cam-wheel held in contact with the roller m5on the lever m3 by means ofthe spring m6. This spring holds the slide in its rearward position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The finger m/ on the slide is grooved on the bottom, so that it lies closely upon the lacing b, while the tinger m2 has side parts fitting down upon the finger m and forming a guide which fixes the path of the lengthwise movement of the iinger m2 with relation to the finger m', the finger m2 having its end located in a socket and so arranged as to be held by a spring at the forward limit of its play. In Fig. 7, which may be termed the normal position of the parts, the finger is illustrated in connection with a blank for a tip which has been cut from the ribbon. In Fig. 8 this slide is shown at the forward end of its movement, the fingers having thrust the blank between the jaws of a closing-die, the end of the finger m2 striking against the side of the upper die, while a shoulder on the end of the finger fm thrusts the blank into proper position to be operated upon by the dies. After the blank has been located in this position between the forming-dies the cam-wheel4 in its rotation causes the upper member n of the die to slide lengthwise through the medium of the pin n', which engages a cam-slot in the side of the cam-wheel 4. This closing-die is formed of a fixed member n2 and a sliding member n, (see Fig. 4,) the ends of the two sections being halved together in such way that their ends overlap while leaving a space between the horizontal faces, while the shoulders at the ends are curved so as to give the proper curling movement to the blank. The result of the closing movement of the dies 71,912 is to cause the metal tip to be wrapped snugly about the lacing b, on which it is held bythe spurs formed on the tip-blank, as well as by the compression of the blank upon the material of the lacing. It will be seen that in this operation of applying the metal tip to the lacing there are four distinct operations by mechanism moved bythe several cam-wheels. The ribbon is first fed forward through the medium of cam-wheel l and connected mechanism. A blank is then cut from the end of it by means of the mechanism operated by camwheel 2. The blank is then fed along the lacing the desired distance by means of the cam- Wheel 3 and its connected mechanism, and the blank then made to tubular form and clamped upon the lacing by the mechanism operated by the cam-wheel 4. The tip now secured upon the lacing is of twice the length needed to form the end of a lace, and the next operation required is the cutting of the lace at a point midway of the length of this tip. The lacing is also to be drawn along the bed of the machine, so as to present what will be the end of another lace or of two adjacent laces in proper position to receive another blank to form tips.

At a suitable position, preferably the lefthand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, a delivery-wheel g is mounted. This delivery-wheel is provided with alace-clamp o and a cutter p, these two devices being located at suitable points at or near the periphery of the delivery wheel. The edge of the delivery-wheel g is provided on one side with a flange r, the periphery of the Wheel forming a suitable surface on or in which the lacing b will lie as it is drawn from the table by the rotation of wheel g. In a suitable position near the periphery of this IIO delivery-wheel a clamp o is adjustably secured, the spring-arm o being pivoted on a base o2 and having a jaw o3 thrust against the flange r on the wheel by means of a spring o'l and in such manner as to firmly grasp the end of the lacing b at the proper time. This clamp is preferably mounted on the outer end of the radial arm 05, which is pivoted on the shaft which supports the' delivery-wheel and at its outer end is secured by a bolt and nut ofs to the rim of the Wheel, any desired number of openings 07 for the reception of the bolt being provided.` The cutter p is fixed on the periphery of the wheel and the clamp o is made adjustable as to its distance from the cutter for the purpose of fixing the length' of the lace.

In the operation of the machine the delivery-wheel g turns in the direction indicated by the arrow and so as to draw the lacing b along the table or bed of the frame and onto the surface of the wheel g, the clamp o having automatically grasped the end of the lacing, which extends a short distance beyond the edge of the table and upon the periphery of the wheel. A trip-arm t is secured to the frame and so located in the path of movement of the arm of the clamp and at such angle as to open the clamp-jaw as it nears the end of the lacing and as the trip is cleared permit the clamp-jaw to close firmly upon and grasp the end of the lacing. If the circumference of the delivery-wheel measures seventy-two inches andthe clamp is located diametrically opposite the cutter p, a lace thirtysix inches long will be cut from the lacing as the cutter p is operated by the cam p', secured to the frame in the path of movement of the outer end of the cutter. (See Figs. 9, lO, and ll.)

The several parts are so 'adjusted that the cutter p, mounted in a slideway p2 (see Fig. Il) and held normally at the outer limit of its path by means of the lever p3 and spring pl, is forced inward by the cam p and sev-ers the lacing at or very near the center of the metallic tube that has been formed about and secured to the lacing h in the manner and by the means above described.

After the cutter has severed the lacing and double tip,as described, the continuous rotary movement of the delivery-wheel carries the lace which has been cut off until the clamp 0 is opened by the trip 1/ (see Figs. 9 and l0) and the lace permitted to fall into a receptacle below the wheel g.

When the double tip and the lacing have been cut, as described, the free end ofthe lacing lies as shown in Fig. l0 and there is no tension on the lacing b except that caused by drawing it along the top of the frame and leaving it in the grasp of the friction-clamp while another piece of metal is being applied to form the tip. It follows, then, that from the time when the cutter p has cut the lacing until the clamp o grasps the free end of the continuous length there is a dwell in the forward movement of the lacing across the machine and the length of dwell incidentally varies with the length of the lace which the machine is adjusted to cut.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine for making laces, clamp devices for holding the lacing extended, mechanism for supplying a thin metallic blank for a tip, means for securing the tip to the extended lacing, and means for dividing the tip and severing the lacing. l

2. In a machine for making laces, clamp devices for holding thelacing extended, mechanism for supplying a thin metallic blank for a tip, means for securing the tip to the extended lacing, means for drawing the lacing along the machine, and. means for dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

3. In a machine for making laces, a .frame supporting the operative parts, means for holding a lacing extended along the frame, a delivery-wheel carrying a lace-clamp, means for supplying a thin metallic blank for a tip, means for securing the tip upon the extended lacing and means for dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

4. In a machine for making laces, a frame supporting the operative parts, means for holding a lacing extended along the frame, a delivery-wheel carrying a lace-clamp, means for supplying a thin metallic blank fora tip, means for securing the tip upon the extended lacing and means borne by the deliverywheel for dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

5. In a machine for making laces, a frame supporting the several mechanisms, a driving-shaft, cams mounted on the driving-shaft, a delivery-wheel mounted on the frame and in operative engagement with the driving-V shaft, means for feeding a length of lacing from a roll, means for holding the lacing extended along the frame, mechanism for'supplying a metallic blank for a tip, means for securing the tip upon the extended lacing, and means for automatically dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

6. In a machine for making laces in combination with means for temporarily holding the lacing extended, an adjustable carriage mounted on the frame, means for holding and feeding a ribbon of thin metal, a cutter for severing a blank from the end of the ribbon, a feed device for moving the severed blank along the lacing, means for attaching the blank upon and. securing it to the lacing, means for drawing the lacing along the frame, and means for dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

7. In a machine for automatically applying a tip or like device to an extended cord or lacing and securing it thereto, a slide for moving the blank lengthwise along the lacing and including pivoted lingers adapted to engage ICO ICS

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the edge of the blank, one of said fingers having a lengthwise movement with reference to the other finger.

8. In a machine for automatically applying a tip or like device to an extended cord or lacing and securing it thereto, a delivery- Wheel with an adjustable clamp device and means for automatically grasping the end of a lacing and a cut-off device borne by the delivery-Wheel and operated by a cam iixed in the path of movement of the cutter.

9. In a machine for tipping laces, means for supplying a continuous length oflacing to the machine, a carriage adjustable along the frame of the machine and supporting mechanism for applying a metallic tip to and securing it upon the lacing, and a delivery- Wheel carrying near its periphery an automatic clamp for grasping the end of the lacing lO. In a machine for tipping laces, means for supplying a continuous length of lacing to the machine, means for holding the lacing extended along the frame of the machine, cam-Wheels borne on the main shaft and severally engaging mechanisms for, feeding a blank into place upon the lacing, for then feeding it lengthwise along the lacing and then closing it upon and securing it to the lacing, and a delivery-Wheel carrying an adjlstable clamp adapted to grasp the end of the lacing, and a cut-off device for dividing the tip and severing the lacing.

HERBERT S. PULLMAN. YWitnesses:

CHAs. L. BURDETT, CHAs. E. MORGAN. 

